Generalized voter-like models on heterogeneous networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a generalized voter model framework for complex networks that incorporates various heterogeneity sources and can be analytically solved, enhancing understanding of how network diversity influences opinion dynamics.

Contribution

It provides a unified formalism for heterogeneous voter-like models, enabling analysis of heterogeneity effects and the development of new model variants.

Findings

Framework allows analytical solutions for heterogeneous networks

Unifies previous heterogeneous voter models

Facilitates exploration of new heterogeneity sources

Abstract

We describe a generalization of the voter model on complex networks that encompasses different sources of degree-related heterogeneity and that is amenable to direct analytical solution by applying the standard methods of heterogeneous mean-field theory. Our formalism allows for a compact description of previously proposed heterogeneous voter-like models, and represents a basic framework within which we can rationalize the effects of heterogeneity in voter-like models, as well as implement novel sources of heterogeneity, not previously considered in the literature.